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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 116 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

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Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: drill · fine · current · bulb · branch · ruler · lie · wax

  1. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  2. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  3. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  4. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  5. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  6. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  7. I've got to change the light ________________.
  8. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  9. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  10. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  11. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  12. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  13. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  14. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  15. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  16. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  17. The light ________________ burned out.
  18. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  19. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  20. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  21. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  22. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  23. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  24. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. drill — the tool
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. branch — of a bank
  6. fine — all right
  7. bulb — for light
  8. ruler — a monarch
  9. drill — a practice
  10. current — of water
  11. bulb — of a plant
  12. drill — army training
  13. fine — a penalty
  14. current — electric
  15. fine — high quality
  16. branch — a division
  17. bulb — for light
  18. wax — to grow
  19. wax — for sculpting
  20. lie — an untruth
  21. branch — of a tree
  22. current — happening now
  23. wax — in the ear
  24. lie — to recline

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com